Can AFL make a footprint in NZ?

[TWLS]

Get a the best few 16-18 year olds in the system a scholarship with a side like Sandy Dragons or Calder Cannons. Live and breathe footy culture in melbourne and see just how hard they've got to work and just how skilful and passionate locals are for the game. Would think they'd be better served spending 2-3 years at that age in a school & TAC Cup system followed by playing at a VFL club than just be lumped on St Kilda's rookie list

jd2010,
Totally agree - Which brings me back to my earlier posting - The AFL Hawthorn Hawks set up the Hawks Cup for the school system in circa 2008. That was 9 years ago. Figures like 30,000 kids have been through the Kiwikick. Where are they now, and has there been big leakage to other sports, after they leave High School.
Just curious about it all, and the volunteers are doing a great job over there.

 

[jd2010]

jd2010,
Totally agree - Which brings me back to my earlier posting - The AFL Hawthorn Hawks set up the Hawks Cup for the school system in circa 2008. That was 9 years ago. Figures like 30,000 kids have been through the Kiwikick. Where are they now, and has there been big leakage to other sports, after they leave High School.
Just curious about it all, and the volunteers are doing a great job over there.

Quite a lot would be playing still. In Auckland I'd say more than 3/4 of the players in the senior comp are 17-25.

There's a big difference between going through kiwi kick at school and actively playing it on the weekend. The current summer youth programme and academy setup (only been going 2 years) is definitely a way to convert more of them into local senior players at the very least. But having seen the kids play there's definitely talent there it's just that they're so far behind what the equivalent age Aussie kid is it's very hard for them. That's why they've got to get over there in that 16-19 yr old stage where the improvement can be massively achieved.

Just don't see the point sending over a raw 18-20 year old and saying good luck at the top level.

 

[TWLS]

Quite a lot would be playing still. In Auckland I'd say more than 3/4 of the players in the senior comp are 17-25.

There's a big difference between going through kiwi kick at school and actively playing it on the weekend. The current summer youth programme and academy setup (only been going 2 years) is definitely a way to convert more of them into local senior players at the very least. But having seen the kids play there's definitely talent there it's just that they're so far behind what the equivalent age Aussie kid is it's very hard for them. That's why they've got to get over there in that 16-19 yr old stage where the improvement can be massively achieved.

Just don't see the point sending over a raw 18-20 year old and saying good luck at the top level.

One of the missing links are Junior Clubs, but that would be in a perfect world. Thanks for the info, which answered a few questions.

 

[jd2010]

One of the missing links are Junior Clubs, but that would be in a perfect world. Thanks for the info, which answered a few questions.

Just not enough numbers for a junior comp. for instance there's probably only 50-60 kids who choose to play on the weekend

 

[TWLS]

Just not enough numbers for a junior comp. for instance there's probably only 50-60 kids who choose to play on the weekend

This will be in Auckland of course which has the biggest number of Senior Clubs, and Schools etc.
Speaking about Seniors - Noticed several Australian based players picked in the initial NZ squad for IC17. That may assist them when the Comp gets underway in August.

 

[The_Wookie]

There needs to be a proper development plan from the top. They're focusing on youth by getting the game played in schools. The afl needs to help aflnz and give talented 17-19 years a pathway into a tac cup setup rather than the pointless scholarship spot right onto a rookie list

The academy program would be a start right?
http://aflnz.co.nz/afl-new-zealand-academy/about/

 

[Aucklander]

The best player to come out of NZ has been Heatherly, but even now he's only played 1 AFL game despite playing in Melbourne for a fair while now. Unless NZ comes up with an absolute freak, the best option is to have them play here (as suggested) in Australia because they simply won't get the same standard of opposition back home. Would probably be plenty of Kiwi families willing to help out with somewhere to stay too I reckon.

Of course NZ might also be content with where the game sits right now in the sporting landscape too.

 

[jd2010]

The academy program would be a start right?
http://aflnz.co.nz/afl-new-zealand-academy/about/

Yeah that's a good starting point. The next step would be getting a few of them across to Melbourne and into a tac cup environment

 

[TWLS]

AFLNZ is trying out a new tack with its player development with this news.
2 players from the Mornington Peninsular League Juniors will play in the current 4 team AFLNZ Premiership for 2 weeks. They will be billeted with local families.

http://aflnz.co.nz/blog/2017/02/28/mornington-peninsula-players-descend-on-aflnz-premiership/

 

[TWLS]

This article originally appeared on Stuff NZ web site.
It talks about a player who found our game by accident, and went on from there.
The way it is written about our great game reflects the indifference overall the Kiwis have to our sport. These type of articles always describe how many players on the ground and how popular it is in Australia etc etc, almost childlike.
What is revealing is that the 4 team AFLNZ Premiership comp which is currently being held in Auckland the players have to pay their own way to get there.
Apparently not covered by the AFL and other grants.
Good to see footy in Dunedin alive and well -The Otago Boys High School has proved to be a positive for recruiting in that area. They did have a teacher from S.A. who introduced our game to the school a while back, which was a big influence on getting some of the students to take up the game.

http://aflnz.co.nz/blog/2017/03/10/timaruvian-george-read-excels-at-afl-in-auckland/

 

[TWLS]

A one on one interview with the Rising Star Award winner for RD 5 in the AFLNZ Premiership.
We posted this article because it highlights the situation in some respects for our game over there.
In winter the player -Will Kempt -being interviewed plays Soccer Football and because of Family connections is now playing our sport in the Soccer Football off season.
His height will help him in our game particularly if he has pace and is mobile AKA Dean Cox ex Eagles Ruckman, who used to act as a midfielder sometimes.

The big question facing him -What sport will he choose down the track. Will he enter the AFLNZ AFL Pathways program.

There is no winter program for Aussie Rules in New Zealand, which means some players play Rugby/Soccer in the winter then front up to our game in the NZ spring.

http://aflnz.co.nz/blog/2017/03/16/round-5-rising-star-awarded-to-will-kempt-after-dream-debut/

 

[TWLS]

This is a good news story about footy in New Zealand and Sydney.
We will look at the Sydney situation first. For many years AFLNSW tried very hard to get into the NSW Independant School System with our game. However it met with stiff resistance from entrenched interests from the Sydney Rugby Union world. These schools are Rugby Union Nurseries.
To counteract this AFLNSW eventually made a total package proposal on a trial basis to the Colleges that included all equipment, coaching etc etc would be supplied. St Ignatius, and others accepted, and the rest is history. We must add here that particular College has had a pre-disposal towards our game for many years. It has been an unofficial HQ of our sport up there.
In 2017 a total of 32 teams are fielded from various schools with St Ignatius leading the way with 5.

http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-10806-0-0-0&a=CLUBS

The upcoming game on Anzac Day will be the second time the NSW Squad has travelled to NZ to play a NZ 18, and it is an International Fixture.
We are curious why the NZ squad did not travel this year after their initial trip to Sydney in 2015. Lack of funding perhaps.

http://aflnz.co.nz/blog/2017/03/08/...eturn-to-nz-to-take-on-aflnz-level-1-academy/

 

[TWLS]

This article has ex Brisbane Lions Champion Simon Black linking up with AFLNZ to promote NZ players who are playing in Australia, through his own footy Academy.
http://aflnz.co.nz/blog/2017/03/30/afl-new-zealand-links-with-simon-black-academy/

A NZ Youth Team will travel to Victoria this month to play a Mornington Peninsular team. This tour continues the project which commenced last year.

However while all this activity looks ok we agree that a deal should be done to fast track the NZ Academy talent pool with the most talented group of say 8 players into the TAC comp in Melbourne for at least one season being billetted out as a trial.
But it does not appear yet that AFL House is prepared to go that far with International footy.

 

[TWLS]

Interesting comments on AFL development in New Zealand from Wayne Schwass who has NZ heritage.
He made the following points --
The AFL is looking for an alternative venue in Auckland.
Incorporate the NEAFL into the NZ footy scene by playing 3 matches a year.
Place a full blown Academy into N.Z.
However they are all good points but as was posted here by a NZ poster one of the biggest problems is - Lack of Adult Interest - in the game.
The alternative is of course ultimately to develop juniors - This has been going on since 2009 - We recently tried to find out but had no success where they all were in the grassroots since that year, which is 8 seasons of footy.
If there is no Adult interest (Parents) who is going to form the Junior Clubs, which is the crucial link between the schools programs and the Seniors (Over 17 yrs)

http://aflnz.co.nz/blog/2017/04/07/afl-should-focus-more-on-new-zealand-says-schwass/

 

[RedV3x]

lack of Adult Interest - in the game./

Is exactly the reason why you have some sort of promotion like as has been suggested.

 

[Garlic muncher]

This is a good news story about footy in New Zealand and Sydney.
We will look at the Sydney situation first. For many years AFLNSW tried very hard to get into the NSW Independant School System with our game. However it met with stiff resistance from entrenched interests from the Sydney Rugby Union world. These schools are Rugby Union Nurseries.
To counteract this AFLNSW eventually made a total package proposal on a trial basis to the Colleges that included all equipment, coaching etc etc would be supplied. St Ignatius, and others accepted, and the rest is history. We must add here that particular College has had a pre-disposal towards our game for many years. It has been an unofficial HQ of our sport up there.
In 2017 a total of 32 teams are fielded from various schools with St Ignatius leading the way with 5.

http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-10806-0-0-0&a=CLUBS

The upcoming game on Anzac Day will be the second time the NSW Squad has travelled to NZ to play a NZ 18, and it is an International Fixture.
We are curious why the NZ squad did not travel this year after their initial trip to Sydney in 2015. Lack of funding perhaps.

http://aflnz.co.nz/blog/2017/03/08/...eturn-to-nz-to-take-on-aflnz-level-1-academy/

50 teams this year in the Sydney independent comp, Knox actually leads the way with 9 teams., Riverview with 7

Up from 42 last year from memory.

Has grown every year, 11 teams in opens this year, but that is year 11 and 12, eventually every year will have its own comp.

ATM it is combined year 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 and opens, some schools have more than enough teams for one or even 2 per year/age group the majority don't, so it will take time.

To use Perth PSA schools as an example most of the 7 schools would have a A's, B's and C's at every year level, so the Independent Sydney schools have a long way to go.

Having said that it has built to its current stage in 4 or so years, PSA schools in Perth have had over 100

 

[TWLS]

50 teams this year in the Sydney independent comp, Knox actually leads the way with 9 teams., Riverview with 7

Up from 42 last year from memory.

Has grown every year, 11 teams in opens this year, but that is year 11 and 12, eventually every year will have its own comp.

ATM it is combined year 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 and opens, some schools have more than enough teams for one or even 2 per year/age group the majority don't, so it will take time.

To use Perth PSA schools as an example most of the 7 schools would have a A's, B's and C's at every year level, so the Independent Sydney schools have a long way to go.

Having said that it has built to its current stage in 4 or so years, PSA schools in Perth have had over 100

This recent attempt is the 3rd to get established.
The Rugby Union world put up very strong resistance at the first attempt. At that time (About 2007) AFLNSW had organised a very small 2 team comp to be set for Friday afternoons AFTER school for the students who were interested.
Those 2 schools were leaned on very heavily and when the NSW Staff (2 people) rocked up they were told to go away and never come back.
However you have got to hand it to AFLNSW they did go back again and again as our game slowly grew.
Have read that Years 11 and 12 in some schools are quarantined against other codes (Rugby only) and also our game is eating into that code in some areas supposedly.

 

[Garlic muncher]

This recent attempt is the 3rd to get established.
The Rugby Union world put up very strong resistance at the first attempt. At that time (About 2007) AFLNSW had organised a very small 2 team comp to be set for Friday afternoons AFTER school for the students who were interested.
Those 2 schools were leaned on very heavily and when the NSW Staff (2 people) rocked up they were told to go away and never come back.
However you have got to hand it to AFLNSW they did go back again and again as our game slowly grew.
Have read that Years 11 and 12 in some schools are quarantined against other codes (Rugby only) and also our game is eating into that code in some areas supposedly.

Well this is a pretty good attempt and appears to be on reasonably strong foundations.

Already Stronger than PSA rugby in Perth, maybe it is about (would have to check) about hockey strength level which seem to have one and maybe 2 teams per age group or year level.

 

[TWLS]

AFLNZ held its Annual meeting recently and the CEO`s report is upbeat.
Apparently AFL St Kilda have not given up in playing 3 AFL matches in Auckland over 3 years, and have their eye on a redeveloped Western Springs complex, but no dates given on a go ahead.
The League has attracted 2 new major sponsors and the AFLNZ Premiership games were played this year on the usual ground in Auckland which now has official Aussie Rules posts permanently erected. (This got a special mention so must be a bit of a big deal over there)

http://aflnz.co.nz/blog/2017/06/06/annual-report-series-ceo-report/

 

[RedV3x]

AFLNZ held its Annual meeting recently and the CEO`s report is upbeat.
Apparently AFL St Kilda have not given up in playing 3 AFL matches in Auckland over 3 years, and have their eye on a redeveloped Western Springs complex, but no dates given on a go ahead.
The League has attracted 2 new major sponsors and the AFLNZ Premiership games were played this year on the usual ground in Auckland which now has official Aussie Rules posts permanently erected. (This got a special mention so must be a bit of a big deal over there)

http://aflnz.co.nz/blog/2017/06/06/annual-report-series-ceo-report/

So you mention goal posts but not AFL on Duke FTA ? Hmm.

 

[TWLS]

So you mention goal posts but not AFL on Duke FTA ? Hmm.

Glad to see you taking an interest in International Footy -There are not that many of us. Just wondering if you have news on International Footy that is not being discussed here.

 

[RedV3x]

Glad to see you taking an interest in International Footy -There are not that many of us. Just wondering if you have news on International Footy that is not being discussed here.

Most Australian Football is played in parallel with the AFL season so almost all leagues are busy with their competitions a.t.m.
There are constant incremental changes that go hand-in-hand with organic growth.
Also this is an International Cup year and thus there has been a lot of focus on individual team build-ups.
There should be some significant additions this year but we're waiting on official confirmations.

Topics which I found interesting lately.
The PNG has really become pro-active. I was surprised at the number of development officers involved and to the extent of the schools program there.
School programs in northern hemisphere. The extent and success of some programs is mind-boggling. We're talking the establishment of competitions in schools.
India, already has more teams than some European countries. Again schools are involved and we also have Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
There is a large number of local development officers in the South Pacific were there was only a couple of AFL ones.
The proliferation of indoor football in colder climates.
The rise of non-I.C. tournaments in stature and economic importance.
The CNFA GF at Stade Jean Bouin.

 

[TWLS]

So you mention goal posts but not AFL on Duke FTA ? Hmm.

Have you ever lived in Sydney or a non AFL heartland area - I have.
Getting "Permanent Aussie Rules Goal Posts Erected" sends a message, AFL NZ specifically mentioned them because of that reason. If you cannot grasp what the message is well?????
Just curious - You keep saying we`re (We are) doing this or waiting for that -Who is we are?????.

 

[RedV3x]

Have you ever lived in Sydney or a non AFL heartland area - I have.

Most definitely.

Getting "Permanent Aussie Rules Goal Posts Erected" sends a message,.

Yes, nothing like it.

If you cannot grasp what the message is well?

I'm questioned whether one set of permanent goal posts at North harbour was more more newsworthy
than the fact Duke TV was on regular FTA.

Just curious - You keep saying we`re (We are) doing this or waiting for that -Who is we are?

A group of people involved in AFL overseas.

 

[TWLS]

Most definitely.



Yes, nothing like it.



I'm questioned whether one set of permanent goal posts at North harbour was more more newsworthy
than the fact Duke TV was on regular FTA.



A group of people involved in AFL overseas.

Define a group of people. Do you have a website/Blog. If not why not. Your answer IMHO is deliberately vague, like your reluctant to disclose who they are.
Your group obviously has access to a lot of interesting information which has been revealed on this forum, and should be shared widely don`t you think.
It appears your group is getting access to some info not generally available, or they do a lot of browsing, or are connected or part of an Overseas League, which may communicate with the AFL International Development Dept.
AFLNZ made the point on the Posts, and also other stuff including the TV coverage, and Sponsorship.
Duke FTA is a medium to long term situation to possibly effect a generational change over there. The Posts affect is immediate particularly to passers by from the New Zealand community, which AFLNZ was trying to point out.